Tag: Christian

Seven Benefits of Memorising The Word of God.

Benefit #1: Good Comes From the Good Stored Within.

Good morning my friends. Yesterday was quite good and full of joy in the Lord, but also quite hard. It was the day the earth said goodbye to Jimmy (A man who was a resident at The British Home For Incurables {it’s full title} we call it today BHI or just The British Home, but it was founded to care for those who’s prospect of recovery was not what man could do but only God, a miracle). Jimmy had been in the home for a very long time and was increasingly incapacitated. When I first met Jimmy about seven years ago, he was bright, singing, dancing and doing so many things; then he was in a wheelchair, then over time Jimmy was bed-bound and could only just move his head a little, speech became almost impossible. But Jimmy had the brightest spirit of anyone I’ve ever known. He thought about others whilst he himself was incapacitated. He knew people’s names, their children’s names, he even knew and asked about my children whom he’d never met. He knew their problems and what they were going through in life. Jimmy also knew by heart many, hundreds of hymns and songs of praise. He knew prayers and Bible verses by heart. Though Jimmy’s body couldn’t do much, he was a witness to the Lord and a joy to be with.

If you are ever in doubt about the importance of getting to know God’s Word in your heart, then consider Jimmy’s life. He knew the Lord, the Word of God and was full of praise. Even though at the end after years of being bed-bound, he’d had enough and wanted to go home to Heaven, every week when I talked with Jimmy, he was still full of light and life. It never took much to get Jimmy singing and praising the Lord. We’d talk for ages about Jesus and knowing Him as the Good Shepherd. Jimmy loved Psalm 23 and knew it word perfect.

This brings me onto the first benefit of Memorising God’s Word:

1) Good Comes From The Good Stored Within.

Matthew 12:35 “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”

Whatever is stored in your heart will come out in the course of your daily life.

Jesus said this in so many wonderful ways;

Matthew 12:34-37 “You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things. 36 But I tell you, on the day of judgement men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.” (Amplified Bible).

The CONDITION of your heart is revealed, by the Good or the Evil that comes from within.

When we store-up within our hearts (heads) God’s Word, Scriptures, we’ll be fixing our minds on God’s Good things.

My friends, going back to Jimmy; His heart; stored full, cram-packed, jam-packed with good, full of the good things of God, spoke good things, but He also became good inside; He overflowed with goodness. So many people I know, who came to help at The British Home, made a beeline for Jimmy’s room. You see, just to be in his presence for a little while brought light and life in to your own heart. Many times it’s difficult to visit people who’re crippled up and in constant pain, because there is often a black atmosphere about them, but Jimmy was light and life, love and peace. That came from the GOOD stored up in his heart over many years. He knew the LORD and he knew the WORD of the Lord, He knew Hymns that contained God’s Word. In his crippled condition Jimmy was a powerful witness of the goodness of God.

There are many more people in similar conditions to Jimmy at the British Home, some have faith in the Lord Jesus and they too shine with God’s light. If you ever want to be humbled and reminded that though you are going through tough times, there are people who’re going through much, much more than you and they are FULL OF JOY IN THE LORD.

The first benefit of getting God’s WORD inside your being is that you’ll become good too. You’ll be as the Proverb says, “As a man thinks in his heart so is he”

Luke 6:43-45 “For there is no good (healthy) tree that bears decayed (worthless, stale) fruit, nor on the other hand does a decayed (worthless, sickly) tree bear good fruit. 44 For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit; for figs are not gathered from thorn-bushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a bramble-bush. 45 The upright (honourable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honourable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Amplified Bible).

You become what you store in your heart.

In my own life, I can see the need to store up more of God’s Word. I try and do that every single day, but I’ve still got nasty bits that need to be washed in the water of the word.

I wonder if the Lord is asking you today, “What’s your heart condiditon like?” Is it Good? Have you been storing the good in your heart or the evil. For whatever we spend our time doing, saying, thinking, focusing upon, we’ll become.

You’ll become a good tree producing good fruit (Remember the fruit of the Spirit; Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control).

Tomorrow, we’ll be looking at another benefit of Memorising God’s Word (Hymns, Psalms and Songs of Praise).

Bible Memory Course:

If you’d like to know how to get God’s Word into your Memory Banks (Stored for Life), we’ll be running an Online Bible Memory Course / Alongside a Group / Class in Church. Let me know. It’s coming very soon.

God bless and start trying on your own to get God’s Word into your heart.

Don.

Quote: Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

“… What about the main thing in life, all its riddles? If you want, I’ll spell it out for you right now. Do not pursue what is illusionary -property and position: all that is gained at the expense of your nerves decade after decade, and is confiscated in one fell night. Live with a steady superiority over life -don’t be afraid of misfortune, and do not yearn for happiness; it is, after all, all the same: the bitter doesn’t last forever, and the sweet never fills the cup to overflowing. It is enough if you don’t freeze in the cold and if thirst and hunger don’t claw at your insides. If your back isn’t broken, if your feet can walk, if both arms can bend, if both eyes can see, if both ears hear, then whom should you envy? And why? Our envy of others devours us most of all. Rub your eyes and purify your heart -and prize above all else in the world those who love you and who wish you well. Do not hurt them or scold them, and never part from any of them in anger; after all, you simply do not know: it may be your last act before your arrest, and that will be how you are imprinted on their memory.”
― Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, The Gulag Archipelago 1918-1956

Daily Spirit & Word, 454: Jesus said, “My PEACE I leave with you”

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Good morning everyone, Sunday worship was amazing and I’m sure many people were touched by the presence of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit amongst us yesterday.

The Month of March is traditionally known as a Windy month, with strong winds and storms. You know my friends, peace is such a wonderful thing. I get some yesterday for five minutes 🙂 There are times when life is just so hectic, so busy, it’s like a swirling storm and a chain of events. Emotions run high and tempers get strained.

Every day we hear about new conflicts; major and minor wars or terrorists / freedom fighters committing some fearful and dreadful attack on innocent people. I think more than anything else today this world needs to learn HOW to be at PEACE, but for the Believer in the Lord Jesus we’ve been both; blessed with PEACE and commanded to be at PEACE, even with our enemies.

Peace is also one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit; it’s evidence for the believer in Jesus that we’ve been accepted into His family. This PEACE of the Lord is not troubled by the storms of life, but there are times when we’re called upon to act in peaceful and loving ways.

The World’s Way & God’s Way Are Different:

Let’s see what the WORLD says and what God’s Word says about the ways we must act; VIOLENTLY or PEACEFULLY.

1. “Don’t get mad, get even.” God’s Way is different; (Matthew 5:25)

2. “Do unto others before they do unto you.” God’s Way is different; (Luke 6:31)

3. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” God’s Way is different; (Matthew 5:38-39)

4. “Give him a taste of his own medicine.” God’s Way is different; (Luke 6:27-28)

6. “I’ll teach her a lesson she’ll never forget.” God’s Way is different; (Matthew 6:14-15)

7. “Are you going let him get away with that?” God’s Way is different; (Matthew 18:21-22)

8. “This means war!” God’s Way is different; (Matthew 5:9)

9. “You’ve got to stand up for your rights” God’s Way is different (Matthew 5:40-41)

10. “Being nice is weakness.” God’s Way is different; (Luke 6:35-36)

Being at and living at PEACE, as you can see if you’ve looked up the Bible verses, is not easy. Nor is it sometimes for the faint-hearted. Thankfully God’s Word also gives us great examples and illustrations for our encouragement. God has acted in the past my friends, He’s promised in so many place in His Word (His LOVE letter to Believers) that He’ll act again.

So we can clearly see that what Jesus said at the beginning “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give you, my peace is different from the world’s peace”…. (My own paraphrase). The results of Jesus inner peace that He’s leaving with us; Our hearts will not be troubled and we will not be afraid. No matter what the STORM or DANGER: Inner peace and contentment comes through the Lord Jesus Christ, it’s the evidence that you’ve been born of the Spirit. But just as I was saying yesterday about the Holy Spirit, though we’ve probably all got PEACE, we need more of it and we all need to practice being at peace with others and with God.

Let’s pray for the Lord’s fullness of His Spirit and more of His PEACE in our hearts today.

Be blessed for a great and peaceful week ahead.

Don.

Famous Quotes on PEACE:

“It is a matter of present possession, and present enjoyment. Whatever tribulation there may be in the world, “we have peace with God.”

Recommended Reading: PEACE.

There are so many wonderful books and websites about PEACE (with God and with our Enemies). PEACE

130 Questions Children Ask About War by David Stoop and Stephen Arterburn (Tyndale House Publishers). Published after the 9-11 attacks, this helpful paperback is loaded with interesting questions and insightful answers. This would be an excellent resource for any discussion of war, conflict, peace, and stress.

Don’t Let Jerks Get the Best of You by Paul Meier, M.D. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). This book can help you begin to take control of your life and develop relationships that are peaceful and build confidence, trust and joy.

In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado (Word Publishing). Focusing on a day in the life of Jesus, Max challenges and motivates readers to move through the “stress of demands,” “storms of doubt,” and “sting of failure.”

Making Peace With Your Father by David Stoop (Tyndale House Publishers). This book will help you make peace with your father, yourself and God.

Peace with God by Billy Graham (Word Publishing). In this classic book, Dr. Graham outlines how a person can become reconciled with the Creator, peace with God, and can have the peace of God.

Peaceful Living in a Stressful World by Ron Hutchcraft (Thomas Nelson Publishers). Ron gives practical steps for finding and practicing God’s peace, despite the pressures and demands swirling around. This book is probably out of print but still available through www.Amazon.com.

Promises from God’s Word (World). This book reprints verses that address daily crises and feelings.

Daily Spirit & Word, 453: Holy Spirit Forever.

Will be with you forever. Christian LIFE in the Spirit Today.

Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before His presence with songs of joy upon your hearts. Give thanks to Him for He is GOOD. His LOVE endures forever. Amen!

Our focus today is; The Counsellor: The Holy Spirit of Truth.

John 14:15-26 (NIV)

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me any more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” 22 Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?” 23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. 25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Introduction:

John 14 is the great chapter in the Gospel where Jesus reveals explicitly and clearly that He’s going to be leaving the Disciples very soon. But it also reveals Jesus heart for everyone who comes and puts their trust in Him. He knows that if the Disciples were left on their own they’d soon desert Him (as they did when He was arrested, tried and crucified). Even Peter, the great rock of a man, denied Jesus when a young servant girl noticed him. Three times Peter denied Jesus, but that was before Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit, that Jesus had promised them here in this section of chapter 14 of John. You’ll notice by contrast the DIFFERENCE in Peter, when He’s been filled with the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2).

Jesus knows what it’s like to loose someone you love. He felt it when Lazarus died remember how Jesus wept; when He saw Mary and Martha and how they grieved for Lazarus? Jesus knows what it’s like. So in Chapter 14 The Gospel Writer is showing us how Jesus was preparing them for His departure; His betrayal and death. Giving them HOPE of a new life even after death.

Jesus was leaving, but He’s promising something wonderful: They are going to see Him again. They are going to be filled with the Holy Spirit and as they experience the Holy Spirit they’ll KNOW: Jesus is with them, the Father is with them, the Holy Spirit is with them: Not only that God in Trinity is with EVERY true believer (a true believer is someone who has Jesus Commands / Teachings and is obedient to them), but He’s going to be IN them.

Holy Spirit For Everyone:

It a promise for everyone / anyone: v23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

Jesus said that in answer to Judas’ question about Jesus revealing Himself to the disciples. He thought that Jesus meant only the disciples would ‘see’ Jesus. Judas has a good heart, he’s concerned about EVERYONE who wants to trust in Jesus. He’s already, even before he’s got the Holy Spirit, got a heart for others.

What will the Holy Spirit do? Belonging / Commands.

In this chapter we’re only given a brief introduction to the great work of the Holy Spirit. His first a most important work for the believer is to help us to know that we belong to Jesus.

Notice: The way to know if you BELONG to Jesus: Is to HAVE His Commands and live in obedience to them. (v21)

To HAVE Jesus commands, is to have them INSIDE YOU: They become a part of your being, your nature, your everything. You’ll LOVE them, you’ll want to LIVE in obedience, complete obedience, to Jesus Commands.

Note: Spiritual Conflict: Ongoing battle because even after you’ve received the Holy Spirit, you are NOT yet perfect or completely like Jesus. You still have a SIN / Fleshly Nature within you too. When you are filled with the Spirit there’s an ongoing war in your being; between your old sin nature and the New Spirit nature the Lord gives you. The Spirit and the Flesh are in conflict; each vying for your attention and obedience. Whichever one you submit to will determine your peace or not. (Romans 7 and 8).

However, the way to overcome the conflict is to be filled afresh with the Holy Spirit.

Explained: Yes, whenever a person comes in faith to trust the Lord Jesus as Saviour, who repents of their sins and forsakes them and begins to live in obedience to His Commands / Teachings (Discipleship), because those commands are written upon our hearts and become part of our new nature; the New Nature we receive when we’re Born Again of God’s Holy Spirit (John 1 and 3), the old nature is defeated, but it’s not dead. It’s still within you and me and everyone who trusts in Jesus.

It’s a kind of ongoing test:

I was speaking with the Youth about EXAMS and our attitude towards them. I asked them, “Do you like taking exams?” They all said, “No, exams are horrible, they’re hard and you’ve got to work hard if you want to pass them”…

I said, “There was a time in my life when I hated exams too, but now I look forward to them and love getting ready for them”…

My friends, being tested about what we know is one thing, but being tested for what we are is quite another. The TEST that we experience as believers is not what we KNOW about Jesus, the Bible, Church, Traditions, etc…. It the TEST to see if we are truly His. That’s an ongoing test. It’s a TEST we’re subjected to every single day.

God wants to know if you are His.

Jesus wants to know if you are His.

The Holy Spirit wants to know if you are His.

The TEST is obedience to the Commands and Teachings of Jesus Christ (God’s WORD: Jesus is the WORD, the Holy Spirit inspired men to write down God’s WORD. God the FATHER is the ultimate source of the WORD / TRUTH / LIFE. Because the Son and the Spirit subject themselves to the Father’s will. The Holy Spirit subjects Himself to the Father and the Son. But they are ALL ONE, they are ALL equal.

Perfect obedience does not make you less of a person; otherwise Jesus would be less…

Perfect obedience elevates you as it did and does the Lord Jesus Christ.

You’ll experience the LIFE that Jesus intends, the more you live in obedience to His commands and teachings.

Comforter: Holy Spirit.

That Bible has so much more to say about the Person and work of the Holy Spirit than is revealed in this little portion from John today. However, here we can be comforted that He’ll guide us and reveal to us EVERYTHING Jesus had commanded whilst He was on the earth. That’s what Jesus is promising. Even if the Disciples hadn’t written the Bible (we’re so glad they did), we’d still be guided and enlightened about the teachings of Jesus Christ by God the Holy Spirit on the inside. The Holy Spirit teaches and trains us according to the will of God the Father. He’ll guide you in all your ways.

Proverbs 3:5-6“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths”

When we become followers of Jesus teachings and commands, we are His Disciples (That’s what He was telling Judas), anyone, everyone who obeys.

As Jesus Disciples we’re given the greatest gift; the Presence of God within, the Holy Spirit will not just be with us, he’ll be IN us.

They’d already known that the Holy Spirit was with them: They’d healed, delivered and seen all the miracles of Jesus. NOW Jesus was promising them; “You’ll HAVE the Holy Spirit in you too”.

The Holy Spirit:

This passage from John above is only an introduction to the work of the Holy Spirit.

The Gospels: Reveal the PROMISE of what life is going to be like with the Holy Spirit. As does the Old Testament.

The Rest of the New Testament is ALL ABOUT LIFE IN THE SPIRIT.

Acts: Called the Acts of the Apostles: But could equally have the full title; “The Acts of the Apostles when they are Filled with the Holy Spirit”. Witness, Work and Life.

Romans: Teaches us the Gospel, but also What Victory we have when we LIVE according to the guidance and teaching of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 7 & 8).

Corinthians: Teaches us about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Galatians: Teaches us HOW to Walk and be LED by the Spirit, the CONFLICT between our natures and about the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in the Believers life.

Ephesians: Has teaching about the Holy Spirit in every single chapter.

Philippians: Teaches us about the UNITY of the Holy Spirit: Making us ONE.

Collossians: Teaches us about the LOVE for others that the Holy Spirit empowers us to have.

The Holy Spirit: Christians SPIRIT LIFE: is

Illustrated in the Old Testament: Prophets, Priests, Kings.

Promised in the Gospels: Jesus promises in John 14, 17. John the Baptist “Spirit & Fire” promised.

Expanded and illustrated and Explained in the Rest of the New Testament.

The Holy Spirit Today:

He convicts of sin and of righteousness: Our Need for Jesus. John 17.

He Gives Believers New LIFE.

He Testifies to Believers that God is our FATHER. (FAMILY).

He Equips Believers to LIVE.

He Guides Believers in LIFE.

He Gifts Believers for SERVICE.

HE Unifies BELIEVERS for BLESSING.

He Fills Believers with God’s LOVE.

My friends, if you’ve ever doubted that you need the Holy Spirit in your life, if you’ve ever been tempted to think, “I’ve got Jesus I don’t need anymore”, then I encourage you to think again. Re-Read the Bible with a Marker / Highlighter in your hand and whenever you come accross Holy Spirit or The Spirit: Mark it. Make a note: What is it teaching me here about the Holy Spirit, what does the Holy Spirit do in this part of the Bible? What does it teach me here about what the Holy Spirit means for a Believer.

Your eyes will be opened.

Your understanding increased.

Your heart will be encouraged.

Your life will be transformed.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit every single day. Take time now and ask Father God to send the Holy Spirit into your life afresh. Pray to Jesus and tell Him of your NEED of the Holy Spirit. Say to the Holy Spirit: “Come and take Your place in my life.”

I’m hoping and praying that you will be filled. I know that God has promised the Holy Spirit to all who ask. I know that once you are filled your life will never be the same again.

God has promised the Holy Spirit to ALL who ask to be filled.

Just pray, “Lord Jesus, I was baptised for the forgiveness of sins, I know I’ve been born of the Spirit, but now I want to be empowered and renewed and transformed by Holy Spirit today”…. Can you say that and mean it?

Daily Spirit & Word

452: Five Ways For Christians To Be Remembered.

Good morning my friends, don’t you just love Friday’s? It marks the end of the working week and the prospect of a day of rest for most. I know there are many who don’t enjoy the luxury of a day off and I even know a few who work seven days a week. However, there are good reasons for taking a day off and having a good rest from your normal labours. The principal one being, we don’t want to drive ourselves into an early grave by being overworked, overstressed. There are also many good reasons; reconnecting relationships with loved ones and with brothers and sisters in the faith and also taking time out to worship the Lord.

Over the years since becoming a follower of Jesus, I remember with fondness many brothers and sisters who’ve died and gone to be with Him. What is it about them that warms my heart today? Their love for the Lord, their devotion to the things of God and their love and warmth for all people; Christians and non-Christians. When its your turn to leave this earth and go home to glory, you’ll be remembered by your friends and family, but what will they remember you for?

Think about Jesus; because Christians are being transformed daily into the likeness of Christ. What was Jesus remembered for? His complete obedience, even to death upon the cross. His powerful miracles and the fact that He didn’t charge people but healed them freely. His attitude to those on the margins of society, sinners and social rejects, Jesus took time to be with them and was scandalised for it. His ways with people from all walks of life; rich and poor, men and women, old and infant. Most of all we probably remember Jesus for His LOVE, CARE, MESSAGE OF TRUTH, AND DEDICATION TO THE FATHER’S WILL.

Today’s Focus On God’s Word:

Titus 2:11-15 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”

And: TRANSFORMATION:2 Corinthians 3:16-18

“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Here are some things every follower of Jesus should strive for and become TOP priorities in our lives.

1) REMEMBERED FOR BEING A CHRISTIAN—1 Tim. 2:4

What a Christian is? Someone who’s Trusted in Jesus death for their sins upon the Cross, who’s believed in Jesus, who’s repented of their sins and forsaken them, who’s been born again of God’s Holy Spirit, who knows Jesus as Lord and Saviour, who’s a committed member of a local fellowship of Saints and is serving the Lord with their gifts and talents and who gives wholeheartedly to the fellowship.

How to become a Christian? Believe in Jesus, Repent of sin and Receive Him as Lord: Then you will be born of the Spirit.

What it means to be a Christian? You’ll love God, love the saints and love those who don’t yet know Jesus as Lord. You’ll be filled with His compassion for others, meeting their needs and serving with your life.

2) REMEMBERED FOR YOUR DEDICATION TO GOD: Rom. 12:1-2

The Foundation of Your Dedication: Love, obedience, praise and devotion for Jesus.

The Character of Your Dedication: voluntary, wholehearted, sacrificial, practical, disciplined.

The Results of Your Dedication: Known to be Blessed by the Lord, loved by the saints and sinners.

3) REMEMBERED FOR YOUR LOVE FOR THE SAINTS:

(See 37 List at bottom of page).

“by your LOVE for one another, people will know you belong to Christ”.

4) REMEMBERED FOR YOUR LOVE OF BRINGING OTHERS TO JESUS: Psa. 126

You’ll Cry For Their Predicament: Luke 16:19-28 (The Rich Man and Lazarus).

You’ll be Guided by the Holy Spirit: Acts 16:6-9.

Your Zeal to reach out: Acts 2; 1 Cor 9:16 (How horrible it is when I don’t reach-out to others and preach the Gospel).

5) REMEMBERED FOR YOUR HEAVENLY FOCUS: Titus 2:13

“How we wait for the blessed hope…”

You KNOW Jesus is Comings Soon:

You DESIRE Jesus to either come or be with Him forever.

Your FOCUS is upon the Blessings when He Comes.

You LIVE your whole life; preapered for His coming or your going Home.

You KNOW this earth is NOT your home.

There are probably many, many more, but as you are transformed into the Likeness of Jesus daily, you can’t help but become more powerful, prayerful, practical, resourceful, holy and full of love for God, for brothers and sisters in the faith and for those who don’t yet know Jesus Christ as Lord.

Today’s Focus On God’s Word:

Titus 2:11-15 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”

How will you be remembered when you leave the earth?

Don’t worry what others think about you, but think of the eternal rewards you are storing up in Heaven as you serve the Lord Jesus today.

Have an awesome weekend my friends, I’m really looking forward to gathering with my brothers and sisters again on Sunday to praise ans worship the Lord Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Wherever you are my prayers are with you. Stay blessed and walk closely with Jesus today. Don’t forget to PRAISE Him, Love Him and you’ll be full of His Love for others too.

Don.

Notes: Helps:

Here are 37 ways Christians can LOVE one another.

Be devoted to one another (Rom. 12:10).

Give preference to one another (Rom. 12:10).

Be of the same mind toward one another (Rom. 12:16).

Accept one another by withholding judgment (Rom. 14:1).

Accept one another by showing deference (Rom. 14:1–5; 15:7).

Esteem [highly regard] one another in love (Rom. 14:5; Phil. 2:3).

Build up one another (Rom. 14:19; 1 Thes. 5:11).

Counsel one another (Rom. 15:14).

Serve one another by showing deference in matters of liberty (Gal. 5:13).

Bear one another’s sin burdens (Gal. 6:2).

Be gentle with one another (Eph. 4:2).

Be kind to one another so as to preserve unity (Eph. 4:32).

Speak truth to one another (Eph. 4:25; Col 3:9).

Submit to one another (Eph. 5:21).

Show compassion to one another (Col. 3:12).

Bear with the inherent sinfulness of one another (Col. 3:13).

Forgive one another (Col. 3:13).

Use Spirit-filled, Word-saturated music to teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19).

Comfort one another with the hope of Christ’s return (1 Thes. 4:18).

Encourage one another (1 Thes. 5:11).

Live in peace with one another (1 Thes. 5:13).

Seek good for one another (1 Thes. 5:15).

Encourage one another to forsake unbelief and hardness of heart (Heb. 3:13).

Stimulate one another to spiritual growth (Heb. 10:24).

Encourage one another by faithful participation in your local church (Heb. 10:25).

Confess sins to one another (James 5:16).

Pray for one another’s spiritual and physical healing (James 5:16).

Be long-suffering and patient toward one another (1 Peter 4:8; Eph. 4:2).

Daily Spirit & Word, 451: With Jesus you will NEVER be LONELY again.

Jesus Christ is the ANSWER to our deepest needs in life: relational connection with the Creator.

Good morning my friends. Last night when we were out on the Streets sharing the Gospel with folks and giving out tracts and Gospel messages, we had a few great conversations with people, but as usual one sticks out in my mind more than the others. It was with a woman we stopped and chatted with under the railway bridge on Norwood Road in Tulse Hill.

It was so noisy, trains going overhead, buses roaring their engines and an endless stream of traffic on Norwood Road, but she stopped when we offered her a £1,000,000 note. I said, “It’s not real, but has a message about Jesus on the reverse side”. She smiled and we began to chat about faith. Isaac asked her, “Do you have a faith?” She said, “I used to, but I’ve been a bit disillusioned by things”. We would normally have gone back over her life and asked about her faith background, but as I found out afterwards, both Isaac and I felt the Lord was telling us to just be quiet and listen to the lady. As we did so we discovered a woman who revealed she was; lonely, desperate and seeking a deep connection with the something, she knew there was something missing in her life, she’d tried many different paths and found them all to be a dead end. She’d been trained as a Clinical Psychologist, trying for years to help people through their difficulties, but she needed help herself, she was desperately lonely and though she thought she should have or know the answer, she’d found all her pathways empty. Now she was ready to try something, anything to make that connection.

After listening for about ten minutes, I said, “You know something, God loves you”. Guess what happened? She began to cry. She’d been waiting to hear that for so long. Then I said, “When you know Jesus Christ, you’ll never be lonely again.” She looked straight into my eyes and said, “My mother is a committed Christian”. I said, “I’ll bet you she’s been telling you that for years?” She nodded. I said, “There’s more, with Jesus you will NEVER be Lonely again and you’ll have a FRIEND not just for life, but for all eternity.”

After giving her some assurance of life with Jesus, we then chatted about the NEW Course we’re starting after Easter, it’s a course that’s looking at the Resurrected Jesus and different people’s encounters with Him. I asked her, “Would you be interested in such a course?” She said, “Yes I would indeed”… I gave her our little leaflet with contact details and said, “Please get in touch with us, I know you are going to enjoy the experience of getting to know Jesus Christ.”

We’ve been saying for many moths that Jesus speaks when we go out for Him, but there’s POWER with us my friends. The Holy Spirit made sure that Isaac and I knew last night to keep quiet and just listen for a while. What if we’d just blurted out with the Gospel? We’d probably have lost that woman, but by being attentive to His leading we were able to engage on a completely different level. We ask Him to prepare the way and He does, but we must be careful to observe and listen to His leading.

Lonely: Loneliness: There are countless desperate and lonely people in our world today. The Bible reveals that loneliness is like a prison and we, Isaac and myself, could see that this woman was like a locked up prisoner desperate to see the outside world and escape the prison cell of loneliness.

Psalm 68:5-6 “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”

Here the Psalm reveals what we said to the Lonely lady last night:

A) God is A Father: A father relates with his children. God relates with those who come to Him as a Father. Yes He disciplines, rebukes and punishes, just like an earthly father does, but God also encourages, gives grace to the humble and strengthens those who are weak and feeling empty.

B) God is a DEFENDER: of those who can’t defend themselves. We serve a God of Justice and one day He’ll give righteous justice to all who mistreat those who are fatherless and widows.

C) God is in HEAVEN: But He’s also right here beside us. God is NOT far away in a place that cannot be found. He’s close to every single human soul. He’s only a prayer away.

D) God PROVIDES: For every single soul there is a FAMILY to belong to. When you come to Jesus you are in God’s Family, He becomes your FATHER and every Christian is your brother or your sister.

E) God sets the captives FREE: In the verse above, loneliness is described as a PRISON and those who are suffering loneliness as PRISONERS, but listen what happens when He sets those prisoners free.

D) There’s SINGING: rejoicing, happiness, peace, joy, praise, release. When you’re set free from something the next thing you want to do is CELEBRATE and REJOICE right? Well my friends, that’s what happens when Father God sets the LONELY FREE.

G) DESERT EXPERIENCE: Those who’ve yet to come to the Saviour, it’s like living in a DESERT, “A sun-scorched land”.

Reflecting back on our meeting with the woman last night, I can see her now in my mind, walking along the road, looking sad, head down. However, after our conversation, as I watched her walking away there was a difference in her. She was walking taller, she was lighter, brighter and more joyful and hopeful. There was a spring in her step and I know an expectation of peace and the prospect of an end to her deep loneliness.

With Jesus Christ as your Lord, Master, Saviour and Friend, you’ll never be lonely again. We, who’ve trusted in Jesus, have an answer to one of the world’s greatest needs today: The need to feel connected, loved, accepted for who we are, cared for, and protected. God has revealed in my places in the Bible that He is the Answer to ALL of life’s relational problems. We’re rootless and restless until we find our eternal rest in Him. It comes when we come to Jesus. Release comes when we come as prisoners longing to be set free by Jesus.

In Everyone’s Life;

There are SIN issues to deal with.

There are Righteousness issues to deal with.

There are Rebellious issues to deal with.

There are Character issues to deal with.

Yes all of the above in ALL of our lives, but there’s a much bigger issue, the issue of being and FEELING CUT OFF from the Creator. We’ll always be lonely until we come to the Saviour, there’s a soul searching within every single human being, that will not be satisfied until we find our true rest in Jesus. That’s why Jesus said, “Come to Me”.

We can try and fill that aching and longing with things, with people, with pleasures and distractions, but it won’t go away. Many mistake the longing for needing more of what the world offers, and they spend all their energy and time trying to fill their life up with things and the world’s resources, but what we need most is to find total satisfaction in absolutely NOTHING, but being with Father God, when we find that total satisfaction, then we’re set free to really enjoy what He’s provided for us.

We’ll no longer see the world and the things of the world as something to posses, to own or keep, but to use and enjoy and give away freely, because our Father has given all of it to us. We’ll hold onto these things loosely, because our happiness, contentment, security and joy are not dependent upon the things or the people of this earth any more. Our deepest JOY and Happiness comes from being connected, related, joined and filled with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

So for anyone who’s feeling lonely today, I would say “Listen to what the Lord your God has told you in His Word. Read and reread those words aloud, because it’s only in knowing the LORD of Creation that we find true companionship that our souls are crying out for.”

My friends, come to the Creator again today; to Jesus who made all things, stop trying to find soul satisfaction in the world, it will always leave you feeling wanting, but be filled to overflowing with His presence in your lives.

What a FOUNTAIN!

What a JOY.

What a PEACE.

Have an AWESOME Thursday.

Don.

NOTES on Loneliness / Our Need For God.

Bible Verses, Quotes, Scriptures About: Feeling Alone; Being Alone ; Feeling Empty, Feeling Lost, Feeling Lonely, Feeling Alone ; Loneliness ; Feelings.Psalm 25:16-17
“Turn to me and have mercy on me, because I am lonely and hurting.
My troubles have grown larger; free me from my problems.” (NCV)Psalm 121:1 -2 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.” (KJV)John 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” (KJV)Matthew 11:29 “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (NKJV)1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” ~ KJV Ad.

Psalm 142:5-7 “I cry to you, O LORD; I say,
“You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.” (NIV)

Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (ESV)

Psalms 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” (KJV)

Psalms 27:10
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (KJV)

Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (NIV)

Matthew 28:20
“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (KJV)

Hebrews 13:5
“Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (ESV)

2 Timothy 4:16-17
“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” (NIV)

Psalm 68:6a
“God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land.” (NASB)

Lamentations 3:24-25 “”The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.” (NASB)

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (NASB)

Luke 19:10
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Amplified)

Psalm 91:1-2, 14-15 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. Because he loves me, says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” (NIV)

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (KJV)

Psalm 9:10 “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.” (ESV)

Psalm 28:7
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.” (NIV)

Psalm 147:3 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (NIV)

Lamentations 3:22 -23 “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness. ” (KJV)

2 Chronicles 16:9a
“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (NIV)

John 14:1-2, 27
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (KJV)

Matthew 11:28 – 30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

John 14:27
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (KJV)

John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

Once Alienated From God..
Galatians 5:4 “You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” (NIV)

Colossians 1:21 “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (NKJV)

Bible Verses About Being Alone, Solitude, Jesus Being Alone
It’s Important to take out time to be alone sometimes – Like Jesus did
Matthew 14:13-14
“When Jesus heard what had happened to John, he left in a boat and went to a lonely place by himself. But the crowds heard about it and followed him on foot from the towns. When he arrived, he saw a great crowd waiting. He felt sorry for them and healed those who were sick.” (NCV)

Mat 14:23 “After he had sent them away, he went by himself up into the hills to pray. It was late, and Jesus was there alone.” (NCV)

Luke 5:16 “..but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray.” (NCV)

Finally..
Psalm 62:1-2
“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”

Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NIV)

John The Baptist’s Powerful Testimony: The Water, the Lamb, the Dove and the Son of God.

Daily Spirit & Word, 447: John’s Powerful Testimony.

Four Symbols

The Water, Lamb, Dove and the Son of God.

Good morning my friends, today we’re gathering on the first Sunday of March to worship the Lord with an truly amazing focus on Jesus, looking at Him through the Magnifying Glass of John the Baptist. Let’s jump right in and read God’s Word;

John 1:29-34

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’

31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptising with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.

33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptise with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.’

34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

As a Magnifying Glass makes things BIGGER: So John’s Witness about Jesus makes Him much BIGGER for each and every one of us today. Here’s HOW!

You know my friends, there is nothing more powerful to lead others to Jesus Christ than by our own witness or testimony of who Jesus Christ is: both to us and to the world. That’s what John the Baptist revealed in his own life and it’s what Christians can reveal to the world today.

We’ve observed the POWER of this fact in the face of debate and doubt: Whilst out on the streets witnessing, we’ll come accross many people who’ve got strong arguments and reasons for not believing in God or Jesus, but after trying to debate them on an intellectual level for a while, we’ve seen how just one or two words brings those strong defences, (These are the Castles they built to hide from God) intellectual and moral doubts come crashing down. When we say, “I know God because I’ve met God personally through Jesus” there’s absolutely nothing they can say. Apart from thinking, either we’re mad or deluded or we’re telling the truth. There is POWER in personal testimony, that’s what John the Baptist brings us today.

John gives us FOUR vary powerful symbols;

1) The Water:

John’s message was: “Repent and Be Baptised for the forgiveness of Sins.” (Baptism means to submerse, to sink to go under, to go down underneath and into the water).

Baptism was something people always did to themselves, but this was very strange, now a man came calling people to come to him to be washed in running water, to be cleansed of their sins. But first John said that people must REPENT.

The people at the time knew what John meant, but we’ve don’t have the same understanding of God’s Word, the Old Testament. He was calling the people to come back to God’s ways, God’s will revealed in the Law and the Commandments. Repenting is simply acknowledging we’ve failed and fallen short of them, turning away from sin and desiring God’s cleansing from Sin. (Sin is the Transgression of the Law of God).

Washing in Water was always a symbol of RITUAL CLEANSING. Baptism = Repentance and Forgiveness / Cleansing from Sin.

2) The Lamb of God: “Behold the Lamb of God”

John was saying, “Behold” which means LOOK PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I’M POINTING OUT.

Who takes away the sin of the world.

In Israel: The Jews sacrificed pure, innocent and spotless lambs, this was God’s given symbol of purification. The blood of the lamb was to show that their sins had been washed away, but that sin has a price, “The wages of sin is death”… The Lamb died in the place of the people, because sin must be paid for.

Imagine that, an innocent, pure little lamb: The people would most surely have the same feelings for little lambs that we have today. They are cute, lovely, innocent, spotless and cuddly: But they needed to die to pay the price for their sins. seems cruel and barbaric to us today, but God was showing the people something about SIN. How much it hurt him and how serious sin was to him.

Now John was saying something awesome: Just like people would wash themselves to purify themselves, so Israelite People would bring their own lambs to be slaughtered. It was their identifying with their own sin. It’s like saying to God, “It was me, I did it, now I bring this little lamb to suffer in my place”… Now John is telling the people, God is Himself providing the Lamb for Sacrifice: Jesus would be God’s Lamb who would be sacrificed to take away the sins of the whole world. His precious blood would pay the price for the sins of everyone. He was God’s pure, spotless and sinless Lamb.

Why? The Bible tells us why: John 3:14-1814 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

3) The Dove:

For many thousands of years, since the time of Noah, the Dove has been well known as the international symbol of PEACE. Often depicted carrying a leaf in it’s mouth.

After the flood, that destroyed every sinful human being apart from Noah and his family, when the waters receeded Noah sent out some birds to find land, the dove finally returned to Noah carrying an Olive branch in it’s mouth. This meant the end of God’s wrath, the flood abated and PEACE with God was restored. He’d finished his work of cleansing / PURIFYING the earth from Sin. Water: Now the earth was appearing again and the Dove brought the symbol of God’s Peace.

My friends, when the Holy Spirit came down from Heaven and entered Jesus, He came in the form of a Dove. Notice what John said though, The Dove came down and rested on him and remained upon Him. The Holy Spirit NEVER left Jesus again.

John said about Jesus; “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptise with the Holy Spirit.”

Jesus was and is the one who sends the Holy Spirit into the hearts of everyone who comes to Him in Repentance seeking the forgiveness of their sins. He died upon the Cross as God’s Lamb to take away those sins. He now gives the Holy Spirit to each and every person who TRUSTS in His death upon the cross, that it was for their sins. His precious, spotless, innocent and holy life-blood poured out on the cross for your sins.

Jest like the Holy Spirit remained upon Jesus, so the Holy Spirit will be with the New Believer forever. He’ll fill you and give you what John said here, “FIRE”… Fire = Zeal for God. Love for God, Devotion to God, Dedication to God’s ways. That’s the FIRE it means the ability to live in such a way, that your life will be pleasing to God.

The Holy Spirit really is a symbol of PEACE between mankind and God. That God was finished with the punishment Jesus had taken all the punishment necessary for SIN and now God was sending the Holy Spirit to reveal the True PEACE between the believer and God. The PEACE in your heart is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

4) Testimony (Witness).

John the Baptist said, “I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.”

WOWzer! What a powerful witness. “I’ve seen” and “I testify”…

My friends, John saw the DOVE (He’d been given a message and a method of getting people ready for Jesus coming: Repent = turn back to God away from sin. AND be baptised to be PURIFIED from those sins) NOW after years of getting people ready, he finally saw what God had told him from Heaven. “When you see the Spirit come down and remain upon him, he is the one who will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire”…. I’ve seen Him, this is the one, this is the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ is the SON of God.

And as I said at the beginning, there is nothing more powerful than personal testimony, personal witness, personal knowledge: “I’ve seen Jesus, I know Jesus, I’ve been with Jesus” What has Jesus done for you?

A Christian’s Personal Testimony:

Witness about Jesus: What He’s done for you:

He’s forgiven my sins (How did that make you feel).

He died for me (How does it make you feel how Jesus died for your sins).

He came into my life: Now tell people what your life is now like with Jesus, in comparison to what life what like without Jesus.

He filled me with His Holy Spirit: Now tell people what it’s like being full of the Holy Spirit. How you know the PEACE of God.

Tell people: “Behold Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the SIN of the World.”

With this POWERFUL testimony, what Jesus came to do, what Jesus has done for you, you can go out and be confident that God will use it to bring others to the same faith and confidence that you have in Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus Christ personally is all the training you need to become a powerful EVANGELIST to lead others to Him.

Today we’ve seen FOUR Powerful Symbols:

These Make for a VERY POWERFUL TESTIMONY.

The Water:

The Lamb:

The Dove:

The Son of God:

What’s the Water For? Repentance and Forgiveness (Cleansing & Pruification).

What’s the Lamb for? Paying the Price in Blood for Sins.

What’s the Dove for? Assurance of PEACE within each and every Repentant Sinner who receives Jesus as Lord.

What’s the Son of God for? He’s the Lamb, He’s the giver of the Holy Spirit, He’s the one who paid the price for sin.

Remember:

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Why do we need a Personal Testimony like John’s? Because God has revealed just how precious each soul is, that He doesn’t want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. So He’s given you a task of spreading this Good News of Jesus to everyone and He’s given you a personal encounter and filled you with His Spirit to accomplish the task. If you’ve not got this FIRE (Zeal) to share Jesus with others, then there’s something wrong with your faith. God’s LOVE compels us to share with others what He’s given to us: So share Jesus today.

Have an awesome Sunday my friends.

If you’ve never done so before, can I encourage you today to come to Jesus Christ; Repent and seek His forgiveness, know that He’s paid the price for all your sins upon the cross and turn to Him now. He’ll give you the gift of the Holy Spirit as a way that you can know that you’ve been forgiven, your place in Heaven is secure and you are living a PEACE with God forever. Come NOW is the Day to be SAVED from Sin. Come today is the day of Salvation from sin.

Don.

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Daily Spirit & Word, 446: New Man in Old Clothes.

Behold The New Has Come.

Behold The NEW has Come

Good morning my friends, I’ll never forget the day that a man who’d been searching for Jesus for some time, finally gave his life to the Lord and came into church the next Sunday, he looked physically different, everybody noticed it, it was like he’d come alive and was shining with the Glory that Moses had when he came down the mountain. One of the men in our fellowship nic-named him “Shiny Man”…. But there is a truth in what happened to him for all of us, we can all get that Glory Glow ourselves, by coming to Christ and being converted from a sinner into a saint. Or if you’ve become like a smoldering wick, your faith has grown weak, it can become be set ablaze with the LOVE of the Lord and you’ll get a NEW FIRE in your heart again.

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

16 So from now on we regard no-one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Notice that; “If you are IN CHRIST” then you are a NEW CREATION, the old has gone and the new has come.

What is the ‘OLD’ That is gone? The old nature; the sinful natural nature that you’re born with, you are no longer a slave to sin, but that doesn’t mean you wont sin anymore, you’r just not governed, ruled or dominated by it. It’s like Jesus promised, “You shall know the TRUTH and the truth shall set you FREE”. You’re set free from sin and given a new SPIRITUAL nature, one that has the power to resist sin, to say “NO” to ungodly desires.

What is the ‘NEW’ that has come? The NEW NATURE. The Bible has many words to help us understand what happens at Conversion to Christ. The word Conversion is one of them: We’re converted from a Sinner into a Saint when we put our trust in Jesus. Being ‘Born Again’ is another; we’re born anew, born from above. We’re born again from the human family into God’s Holy Family forever.

D L Moody tells this story;

“A man got up in one of our meetings in New York some years ago, who had been pretty far down; but a wonderful change had taken place, and he said he hardly knew himself. He said the fact was, he was a new man in his old clothes.

That was just it. Not a man in new clothes, but a new man in old clothes.

I saw an advertisement which read like this: “If you want people to respect you, wear good clothes.” That is the world’s idea of getting the world’s respect. Why, a leper might put on good clothes, but he would be a leper still! Mere profession does not transform a man. It is the new nature spoken of in 2 Corinthians v. 17: “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” D. L. Moody “Anecdotes, Incidents and Illustrations.”

Behold ALL Things Are Become NEW: Asesome!

You’ve been transformed my friends, the world looks at how good you look on the outside, but the LORD looks upon the heart. (Remember how he chose King David, by looking into their hearts the LORD refused his brothers, but David’s heart was different according to God).

When you come to Christ, it’s like a complete transformation has taken place over-night. Jesus gives a a whole list of new things;

New Heart,

New Desires,

New Nature,

New Family,

New Name,

New Beginning,

New Joy,

New Reality.

The OLD has gone, BEHOLD THE NEW HAS COME. the new nature within desires different things from the old nature, this is how you can tell if you’ve been born again or not, because you’ll no longer desire the same old things. Old things with pass away and new things, the things of God will become increasingly part of your new nature.

Have an AWESOME Saturday with Jesus today.

Live your new life in the old body, but know that one day, you’ll receive your eternal clothing soon.

Daily Spirit & Word, 445: Grandmother and Mother’s Sincere Faith.

The Church today needs more faithful Grandmothers and Mothers, who’ll be able to ignite the faith of Jesus Christ in their children and grandchildren.

Good morning my friends, I was really encouraged this morning reading through 2 Timothy, by Paul’s devotion to praying for him and the way that Paul was encouraging Timothy in so many ways. The things that jumped out at me were having people in our lives who are inspirations to keep us going, examples that we can follow and emulate and encouragements to know that because God was active in their lives, He’ll also be with us on the journey too.

2 Timothy 1:3-7

“I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

Faithful In Prayer:

When children observe a Mother praying at home regularly. When she has a sincere faith it will leave a life-long impression upon her children and even her grandchildren.

Firstly notice Paul’s own Faithfulness in Prayer:

“I thank God, who I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.”

Paul’s remembering back to his faithful praying ancestors: It’s good for us as Christians to have heroes of the faith, men and women of prayer who’ve served the Lord Jesus Christ faithfully in all kinds of circumstances. When I was a young Christian some old saint gave me a book and said, “Read this, pray about it and ask God to help you to be a Christian like some of these were”. I took that book with me to sea and read it upon my bunk on the Submarine hundreds of feet below the surface of the icy cold waters of the North Atlantic. I was, as far as I knew, the only Christian aboard. It soon became known that I was using a room on the Boat for prayers, for months no one joined me. Then a young man, Shawn Frow, gave his life to the Lord and we began to meet almost every day; to pray, read the Bible and sing and praise the Lord. Me upon my guitar and he with faltering voice because he’d never sang hymns of praise in his life before. I shared the contents of the book with Sean and together we marvelled at the old saints. We were encouraged aboard a boat full of unrepentant sinners to be faithful to the Lord in all things and to be His witnesses. People began to be interested and requested the Bibles that took up half my bunk. I’d intended to give them away to folks, but it didn’t’ begin happening until young Shawn became a believer and we prayed together about it.

When you think about FAITHFUL Christians and how they served the Lord and what the Lord did through their lives, you too will be encouraged in your own situations, you’ll be enthused to walk as Jesus did, in faith and power of the Holy Spirit. So I would encourage you to get to know the Saints of the past as Paul did, his “faithful praying ancestor”s. Even if you don’t have any in your own immediate family who love the Lord, then you have them in abundance in the Lord’s Family of believers. Read, study and meditate upon the lives of people like: George Muller,Isobel Khun,Billy Bray,David Brainerd, Robert Annan, David Wilkerson and Jackie Pullinger. Faithful saints who gave up the world to follow Jesus and it’ll blow-your-socks-off what Jesus did in and through their lives; but what was it that made them so great, such heroes of the faith? PRAYER and BEING WITH JESUS REGULARLY.

Heroes of the Fath: Susanna Wesley:

Here’s a little account of Susanna Wesley (The Mother of John and Charles Wesley, the Great Methodist Preachers and Hymn Writers).

“Since there were no afternoon church services, Susanna began an evening family gathering where they sang psalms, prayed and Susanna read a short sermon from her husband’s library. It began with the family and the servants but soon word spread and others neighbors appeared, and soon there were too many for the parsonage. Susanna had written her husband of what she was doing, but then in his own letter when he perhaps saw the services as competition, Mr. Inman complained to Samuel. His claim to Samuel was that such irregular services could cause criticism or even scandal for the church. For while women have been ordained in many Methodist churches for more than 50 years at that time the idea of a woman having any part in a worship service – even in her own home – was unheard of. Samuel suggested to Susanna that she have someone else read the sermons, but still Mr. Inman complained and finally Samuel told Susanna to discontinue the meetings. However, she declined as she described how the meetings were a genuine and effective ministry to those who attended and that Mr. Inman was about the only one who‘d objected. The services continued.” Taken from the site History’s Women Read more about Susanna by clicking the link.

NEXT Timothy is encouraged to do the same thing too: To remember the faithfulness of his own Grandmother and Mother. In an ideal world there would be generations of faithful relatives who loved the Lord Jesus, but I know that most people today, who come to faith, have very few of the Lord’s anointed in our families. My own mother became a Christian on her death-bed, my father became a Christian whilst in a coma; both of whom had been witnessed to by my brother Paul and I for years. We’d shared the Gospel, read the Bible, prayed for them, but they stubbornly refused to trust in Jesus, until they were in a desperate situation.

However, Timothy had that witness. I’ve found as I’ve studied Timothy that Paul must have regarded him as a bit timid a bit weak in his faith and frightened to carry out his commission. His letters to Timothy are so full of encouragement to be faithful, to keep going, to be prepared to suffer for the Gospel.

Sometimes, having faithful relatives and strong Christians in our family is NO guarantee that the faith they have will be shared by every member of the family. We meet people out on the streets of London every week who’ll say, “My grandmother was a woman of prayer”. As if that faithful old saint was enough, they didn’t need to do it themselves, because she did it for the whole family. I aways respond with “What about you?” Paul said, “I’m persuaded is in you”. He needed to be persuaded, to be convinced, to have it certified that Timothy really did have that same faith as his grandmother and mother. But he’d become convinced of it. Notice too that Paul was praying for Him day and night. I pray for my friends and some of you I pray for every single day, but I don’t pray for you DAY & NIGHT like Paul did for Timothy. He must have thought that Timothy needed his prayers, that something was lacking in his walk with Jesus.

There’s NO Second-Hand Faith in God’s Family.

I’ve found that when there’s been a very strong person of faith in a family, the rest of the family are not very fire-filled, they are like the Laodican Church in the book of Revelation; Luke Warm Believers. They don’t have the same kind of compulsion, zeal, commitment and drive to serve the Lord wholeheartedly. I’m not sure why that is, but it seems that a totally surrendered life and a faithful life to members of ones own family is a hindrance to those who live with them and know them personally. It’s like they depend upon the faith of the faith-filled rather than cultivate their own faith. I’ve known many Preachers children, great preachers and wonderful men and women of God, who’s own children’s faith is almost non-existent. I know they must be praying for them, witnessing to them and sharing Jesus with them constantly. But we must always bear in mind: “Remember there are no second-hand Christians in God’s Family.” We must all come to Saviour for ourselves. We are not Christians because our Grandmother or Mother was a believer. Perhaps Paul was wondering if Timothy really had been born-again of the Holy Spirit, he’d laid hands upon him to receive the gift, but wasn’t convinced it was a genuine conversion, because he’d not seen the evidence of it, but now he’s writing and he’s been persuaded and convinced (we don’t know how).

We do need faithful Mothers, Grandmothers, Brothers, Fathers, Sisters of the faith today; who’ll encourage family members, who’ll pray for their children and grandchildren, but who’ll also lead them to the Lord so that the children will be set on fire with love for Jesus too.

My four year old granddaughter Leila is a natural evangelist. She lives in South London, in Thornton Heath, which is an area full of Muslims. She can identify a Muslim and said to me the other day, “That lady is a Muslim grandpa, but we’re Christians”. She was out shopping with her mother in Tesco and at the check-out asked the Teller “Are you a Muslim? I’m a Christian, I love Jesus. You should love Jesus too”… She’s only FOUR and is a bold as a lion. Her mother, my daughter, apologised for her and said to her, “You don’t ask people that!”. There’s NO second-hand faith in the family of God. Each and every individual needs to come on their own to Jesus Christ, in faith, in repentance and to take Him as their own Master, Lord and King.

I hope and pray that Timothy was faithful and continued in the faith, we just don’t know. Paul wanted him to “fan into flames” that gift of the Spirit. My friends, I want every Christian to be FULL OF FIRE OF THE LORD JESUS, AND FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

READ REVELATIONS:

No Second-Hand Faith in the Family of God.

Revelation 3:14-22

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. 21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

As Paul said, “God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

My friends, the weekend is coming, keep going with Jesus, gather with the saints on Sunday, worship Him, Love Him, Serve Him. He’s with you, in you and will encourage you to keep going in the strength that He provides. Mothers, keep praying for your children, but lead them to the Saviour for themselves. Grandmothers, pray for your grand-kids that they’ll get the FIRE for themselves. The Church today desperately needs faithful, fire-filled Grandmothers and mums, dads and granddads.

Daily Spirit & Word, 444: “As a Man Thinks in His Heart, So IS He”

Principles and Precepts to Live By.

Good morning my friends, I was preparing my message from Daniel this morning and fell down a rabbit hole, not literally, but I was sidetracked by my study. Praise the LORD! I was thinking about the consequences of Nebuchadnezzar’s delusion; how he thought that by his own strength and will power he’s achieved the success and admiration of the whole world at the time. His foolish thinking led him to believe that he’d become a god, then God Almighty stepped in and revealed Himself to him. Finally Nebuchadnezzar repented and acknowledged God for who He is. That’s an awesome story from Daniel 4, read it again.

But then I was led to Proverbs and a little verse popped up in a side note; Proverbs 23:7 “For as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he: Take food and drink, he says to you; but his heart is not with you.” But it was only the words, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (KJV)

This little part of a Proverb has been used and abused for over a hundred years now, because from this verse sprang up the “Positive Thinking” movement. It was popularised in a little book by a man called James Alen, but the full effect of his writings didn’t even happen in his own lifetime, he died young. He wrote the little book “As A Man Thinketh” and it took off in the 20th Century. His main thesis was, “What you think about, so you are or become” Also that man (human beings) are the directors of their destiny. He called it a ‘Divine Law’. Was he right? Well we’ll look at that in a bit, but from his writings and the Positive Thinking Movement, it has infiltrated the church and so many are duped by the ‘spirit’ behind the movement. “You can have what you want if you just think the right way”…The POWER of Positive Thinking.

Many Pentecostal and even mainstream ministries are founded upon these principles: “Name it Claim it”, “Sow your seed, reap your harvest”, “Faith / Word Ministries” and most fully perverted in the false teaching behind the “Prosperity Gospel” in the messages of many prominent preachers today. Countless Millions of poor and foolish believers have poured their life savings into these ministries in the hope that if they just “sow their seeds”, they’ll become very rich indeed. Their conferences a full because there is such desperation, depravity and need in the world today and many want to become wealthy. You’ll also get others from this school of thinking that proclaim, through the power of positive thinking you can become “Healthy”, “Wealthy” and “Wise” of course they couch it in different terms and label it ‘Biblical’ to give it an authenticity, but the teaching has it’s roots, not in the Bible, but firmly and deeply embedded in the Positive Thinking Movement.

There IS and ARE Principles within God’s Word that we can live by, but you’ll normally see them in different places in God’s Word:

They’ll be illustrated in the Old Testament and Explained and Applied in the New.

Biblical Principles and Precepts will be Illustrated in the Old Testament and Applied and Explained more fully in the New Testament.

So is the precept / principle; “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”, revealed in the lives of Old Testament Characters? Yes it is, obviously and many times too: Just think about Nebuchadnezzar. Did Jesus teach about this Divine Principle and Precept? Oh yes he did, He said, “The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

Does the New Testament further teach or apply this principle?

The most explicit verse for the Principle of Positive Thinking is

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

If we take the teaching of the Proverb “what you think about you become” and Apply it to the Philippian reading we get;

When you think about TRUTH: You’ll become truthful.

When you think about Noble Things: You’ll become noble.

When you think about Right (Justice): You’ll become just yourself.

When you think about Purity: You’ll become pure.

When you think about Lovely things: You’ll become lovely.

When you think about Admirable Qualities in Others: You’ll become admirable too.

When you think about Excellence: You’ll become Excellent or you’ll excell in all you do.

When you think about what’s Praisworthy: You’ll become praiseworthy yourself.

Is this true? To see if these things are true, I encourage you to go back again to the Old Testament to see if these Principles based upon right thinking are true. Then when you’ve done that, go and look at what Jesus has said and then to the New Testament writings for application and teaching. You see what I’m saying, the Bible is consistent and if a principle or precept is from God it will be an ETERNAL principle throughout His Word.

Now we must look behind the motives and the teachings of those who tell us or encourage us to ‘Become Wealthy, Healthy and Wise.”… Also the more recent movements; “Success and Achievement”. They are all appealing to the FLESHLY side of Human Nature that’s within each and every one of us, it’s the spirit of the world, Satanic… Perhaps God does want you to become rich, but He never, ever tells us to have our thinking upon money or wealth, in fact the Bible teaches expressly the opposite. Think about what Jesus said in the parable of the man who wanted to build bigger barns to store his abundant grain. He also told us NOT TO WORRY about our life, “who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” He told us not to run after all these things, and He gave us the reason that answers the question; why? Because your Heavenly Father knows that you need them.

What should be our motivation and thinking then? To be with God. Our focus should be upon Jesus Christ and our Eternal Destiny. When we get our focus and being right, we’ll soon notice false teaching. Most Christians KNOW; we shouldn’t store up things here on earth, but in heaven. We’ve got so much good we can do down here on earth every single day, that doesn’t cost a single penny to do. Are we living for God or are we living for ourselves. Be careful then, who you listen to and watch out when someone offers you and uncharacteristically generous gifts, because they may not be thinking at all about you, but about their own schemes and plans. I’ve had that myself and it does indeed, as the Proverb tells us, leave and very nasty taste in the mouth.

Here is the Proverb in full, look at the principle and the precept and live it, but beware of false teachers.

Proverbs 23:5-8

5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

6 Do not eat the bread of a miser (literally; one who has an evil eye or is a known covetous person), Nor desire his delicacies;

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words.

Did you see it in context: He’s greedy, covetous, deceitful, miserly. When he’s offering you a gift that goes against his known character, you’ve got to ask yourself the question; “WHY?”… Don’t eat it or you’ll be sucked into his own, evil, plans for you.

Have an AWESOME Thursday my friends.

Stay close to Jesus and be filled with the Holy Spirit today.

From today’s message you’ll see why we need Jesus every day and the fullness of His Holy Spirit.

Repent and Confess ANY known sin in your own life.

If you’ve been duped by false teachers in the past, no matter how glossy and sparkly they looked, turn again to Jesus.

Trust ONLY Him and His Word.

Don.

Note: I’ve not named or shamed any false teachers here. Why? Because when your walking with Jesus every day you don’t need me to point them out to you, you’ll know in your Spirit that something is not right in what they are saying or doing. Get out of there quickly and follow the Spirit’s lead to a fellowship that follows Jesus and His Word and wants you to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Day 6: Saying Thank You.

Day 6 of 40 Acts of Generosity. 40 Acts Together.

It was wonderful saying goodbye to my grandchildren this morning, they took the time to come and find me and say, “Thank you Papa for the lovely breakfast.” Little Leila also said, “Thank you Jesus for the Boiled Eggs”… She’s only four and puts a smile on my heart.

There’s nothing quite like a heartfelt and sincere “Thank You”. We all get those warm-fuzzies when people appreciate what we’ve done for them.

My friends, Don’t forget to say thank you today to everyone who does something for you. My wife travels to work by bus and every time she gets off she shouts out to the driver, “Thank you Driver”. One day it was pouring down with rain and she was quite a distance away from the Bus Stop, but the Driver recognised her and stopped the bus. That’s unheard of in London, they don’t normally stop the bus between stops to let people on. Julie was so thankful and showed her appreciation, she could have been soaked and would have had to wait ages for another bus to come along.

Being thankful brings God’s blessings into your life.

Be Generous, even if those around you don’t appreciated it. SAY “Thank you” as often as you can.

Posts By Don Davis

God’s Word Daily

Reading God's Word Every Day.
"No Read, No Feed"
If you don't feed upon God's Word as you would your breakfast daily, then you are Spiritually malnourished for the rest of the day.
"Read & Feed"
When you read God's Word before you do anything else, you'll be fed, nourished, encouraged, strengthened, fortified and enlightened Spiritually.
DO IT EVERY DAY.
Go Get Your Glory Glow NOW!
Stay blessed in Jesus. Don.